NWCC Celebrates Women's History Month

by Sarah Smith

Senatobia, MS (02/23/2024) — Northwest Mississippi Community College libraries are working together with other campus entities to celebrate Women's History Month in March.

During the month, Northwest libraries are hosting a read along for "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus and are hosting an event influenced by the story, which is about an unlikely chemist who becomes a TV cooking show host who cooks using chemistry to showcase healthy meals for families.

"The Great Northwest Bake-Off-Chemistry Edition" will be held on April 10 at noon in Room 333 on the DeSoto campus in Southaven. Melody Williams will lead the program, which is open to everyone.

Dr. Melissa Wright, director of Learning Resources, said this book resonated with her, including the societal norms for women and wanting to fight for the changes you want to see in the world.

"I love the fact that Elizabeth insisted on doing things her way," Wright said. "Even when they didn't conform to society's expectations of women and their roles."

Wright also appreciated the importance of love and humanity in the book. Even when the main character, Elizabeth Zott, thinks she doesn't need anyone she realizes the dependence everyone has on love and friendship as the story progresses. She realizes that those connections don't weaken her as a woman but instead empower her to be a better woman and leader.

The libraries will also be discussing the novel on March 26 in person in Tate Hall room 106 and over Zoom at 2 p.m.

Wright said there are some very personal reasons that this month is very important to her and shared some of her own inspiring women stories, including that of her own mother, Martha Mahaffey Wright.

"It boggles my mind that for the first eight years of my life, women were not allowed to apply for a mortgage, or a credit card separate from their spouses or another male co-signer," said Wright. "My mother, in her own way, challenged these norms and also taught me to challenge them. I noticed from a very young age that my friends' parents' checks were all in the name of 'Mr. and Mrs. Jack Smith' or 'Mr. and Mrs. Joe Young.' My parents' checks, though, were in the name of 'Mr. and/or Mrs. O.T. and Martha Wright.' Being the inquisitive child that I was, I asked my mother about this. Her response still resonates with me five decades later. She stated, 'I am not an extension of your daddy. I am my own person and I want my name.' From my mother, I learned from the age of seven the importance of forming relationships with and caring about others, but also the importance maintaining your own identity."

In addition to the reading of "Lessons in Chemistry," the Great Northwest Bake- Off, and the discussion of the book, other events will take place throughout the month to celebrate Women's History Month. A Paper Circuit Workshop will be held March 5 at the DeSoto campus library at noon and at the Senatobia campus library (temporarily located in the Tunica Building, second floor) at 5 p.m.

The Heindl Center is hosting a touring production of "HEDY! The Life and Inventions of Hedy Lamarr" on March 5 at 7:30 p.m. Hedy Lamarr was a famous actress and inventor and innovator who helped make significant contributions to the technology used in today's Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. The library will host a trivia contest Feb. 28-March 4 with winners receiving two free tickets to the Hedy Lamarr show at the Heindl Center.

To learn more about Northwest libraries and their programming, please visit northwestms.edu/libraries.

Melissa

Wright

Senatobia

Jack

Smith

Southaven

Northwest Mississippi Community College

NWCC Celebrates Women's History Month

Northwest Mississippi Community College

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